Hot-water heater



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W. N. OMALIA HOT WATER HEATER v i A fun June 5, 1951Filed sept. 27, 1947 l ls l INVENTOR.

FIG.

June 5, 1951 lw. N. O'MALIA 2,555,699

HoT WATER HEATER Filed sept. 27, 1947 2 sheets-she'et 2 IN V EN TOR.

W RMQL@ IUE/Vf Patented June 5, 1951 HOT-WATER HEATER William N. OMalia,Oakland, Calif., assignor of one-half to Clifford A. Hatch, Oakland,Calif.

Application September 27, 1947, Serial No. 776,573

4 Claims. 1 This invention relates to hot water heaters and has for itsprincipal object the provision of a heater adapted for extreme economyof fuel.

I accomplish this result by the device illustrated `on the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of my improved heater taken online I-I of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the heater shown onFigure l.

Referring to the drawing in detail, my heater comprises a cylindricalwater container, 5, having a vertical flue 6 passing through the centerthereof. A plurality of relatively smaller flues 'I are spaced aroundthe central ilue 'I and communicate with a space 8 formed between thetop 9 of the container 5 and the top Il] of an insulated jacket I Isurrounding the container 5.

The jacket II comprises an outer and inner lining having the interveningspace packed with heat insulating material I2. It tightly surrounds thecontainer and extends above and below the same, to form theaforementioned space 8, and the rebox I 3 under the container 5.

Telescopically mounted in the upper end of the central ue 6 is a closefitting pipe I4 which extends upwardly through the space 8 and through arelatively large concentric opening I5 in the top III of the jacket II.An annular plate I6 is attached to the pipe i4 near the upper endthereof, and is of a larger diameter than the opening I5. Thiscombination of plate I6 and pipe I4 serves the dual function of sealingthe iiue Ii from the space 8, and sealing the space 8 from the openingI5 when the plate I6 is seated on the top I2 of the jacket II. The pipeI4 is adapted to function as a permanent seal while the plate I6 acts asa damper and cut-off for the nues 1.

A gas ring I'I mounted in the rebox I3 has, located above it, a bimetalor other suitable thermo-responsive device I8 adapted to raise and lowera centrally disposed vertical rod I9 which is attached to the upper endof pipe I4 by means of a cross-bar 20.

A concentric smoke casing 2| is fitted on the top I2 of the housing II,and is provided with a circular upstanding flange 22 for engagement witha conventional flue pipe, not shown.

Fuel is furnished to the ring II through a thermostatically controlledvalve T which has its element 23 extending into the interior of thecontainer 5. The valve T is bypassed by a pilot light 24, to ensureiiame to the fuel passing through ring I'I,

The inlet and outlet pipes to the container 5 and the rebox door havenot been indicated, as

2 they form no part of the novel features of the present invention.

When the heater is lit, the element 231, being surrounded by cold water,allows free flow of gas through the valve T. This in turn results in a.maximum functioning of the element I8 to raise the damper I6 and allowthe hot gases to pass through the flues l, thus utilizing the maximumheating surface of the device. As the water in the container 5approaches the desired temperature, the valve T functions to restrictthe flow of fuel to the ring I'I, and as the ame gets lower, the elementI8 allows the damper I6 to lower and eventually close the opening I5.The pilot light stands in readiness in case the gas is completely shutoff and later turned on by the action of the valve.

It will be apparent that when the water is brought up to the desiredtemperature, a temperature differential will exist between the upperspace 8 and the rebox I3 which would result in a 'continuous circulationof cold air through the flues 1. I have, therefore, provided theautomatic damper to eliminate this undesirable condition while stllretaining the eicient feature of a tubular heater.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have devised a heater ofhigh thermal eiciency which is capable of quickly bringing water to thedesired temperature, and one which will maintain the temperature of thewater with a minimum consumption of fuel.

While I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention it shouldbe understood that modifications may be made within the spirit and scopeof the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A water heater comprising a drum for reception of water to be heatedsubstantially surrounded by an insulating jacket, a rebox within saidjacket immediately subjacent said drum, a rst smoke space within saidjacket adjacent said drum, a second smoke space adjacent said firstsmoke space and in communication therewith by means of a valve port, aprimary flue in communication with said rebox and said second smokespace, a secondary flue in communication with said rebox and said firstsmoke space and in heat exchange relation with said water in the drum,said primary nue including a valve member arranged to open and closesaid valve port on axial movement of a portion of said primary fluewhereby said secondary flue may be automatically placed in and out ofcommunication with said second smoke space.

2. A water heater comprising a drum substantially surrounded by aninsulating jacket, a rebox within said jacket immediately subjacent saiddrum, a rst smoke space within said jacket adjacent said drum, a secondsmoke space adjacent said first smoke space and in communicationtherewith by means of a valve port, a primary flue in communication withsaid re box and said second smoke space, a secondary ue in heat exchangerelation with the water to be heated and in communication with saidrebox and said rst smoke space, said primary ue including ia portiontelescopically mounted thereon vfor vaxial movement, a Valve associatedwith said portion and movable in one of saidsmoke spaces whereby saidvalve may be automatically moved to open or close said valve port.

3. A water heater comprising a drum surrounded by an insulated jacket,said jacket extending above and below said drum to form a v'smoke spaceVand a rebox respectively, said smoke space having an openingcommunicating with :a

#second smoke space, a flue extending from said rebox through 'saidopening and communicating with 'said second mentioned smoke space, apassage extending from said rebox in heat exchange relation with thewater .in said drum and in communication with said first mentioned smokespace, said ue having an axial movable 4section mounted in the upper endthereof, and a damper operatively yassociated with said section arrangedto automatically regulate the size of said open'- ing upon movement ofsaid section.

4. A water heater comprising a shell-like member for reception of waterto be heated, means immediately below said member forming a firebox andmeans immediately above said member forming a first smoke space, saidrst smoke space having a. port therein communicating with a second smokespace, a primary flue extending through said member in heat exchangerelation with the water therein 'and in ow communication with saidirebox 'and said second smoke space, a secondary ue extending throughsaid member in heat exchange relation with the water therein and in flowcommunication with said rebox and said first smoke space, an axiallymovable valve member interposed between said -rst and second .smokespaces, said valve member REFERENCES CITED The following references areof record in the le of this patent:

UNITED rSTATES PATENTS Date Number Name 353,996 Walp n- Dec. 7, 1'8861,733,198 Platt c.- Aug. 19.-, 1.930 .1,813,395 Fraser i July 7, 1931

